Loose-leaf binder.



J. G. DAWSON. LOOSE LEAP BINDER. APPLICATION FILED AUG.11, 1909.

Patented Mar. 1,1910.

Imfen or c/dmes ,DawiW a rigid base plate 13, preferably 0 UNITED STATESPATENT OFFICE.

JAMES G. DAWS N, QF'WEBSTEB GROVES, MISSOURI, AEBIGNOB T0 SIEBER &TRUBSELL MANUFACTURING COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF MISSOURI.

LOOSE-LEAF BINDER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Mar. 1. 1910.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, James C. Dawson, a citizen of the United States, andresident of Webster Groves, county of St.Louis, and State of Missouri,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Loose-Leaf Binders,of which the following is a specification, and which are illustrated inthe accompanying drawings, forming a part thereo The invention relatesto loose leaf binders usually made in Small form and commonly known asrice books. The binder mechanism is 0 that type in which mating impalingrongs are carried by a pair of plates which ave their inner edges incontact and are forced together by a sprin whereby a species of toggleaction is o tained, the pron -carrying plates being deflected downwarwhen the prongs are closed and upward when the are open, force beingnecessary to shift t em from either position to the other.

The object of the invention is to simplify and generally improve bindersof this type; and it consists in a structure such as is hereinafterdescribed, and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which- Fire 1 1s aplan view of the binder showmg the pron s closed, and theirpositions, when open, in indicated by dotted lines; Fi 2 is a detaltransverse sectional view of t e hinder, the prongs being open; Fig. 3is a detail central longitudinal section through the binder mechanism;Fig. 4 is a detail transverse section, the binder being closed; and Fig.5 is a erspective of one of the mug-carrying p ates with the prongsattae led thereto.

The binding mechanism is, as usual secured between a pair of side orcover plates 10, 11, and is attached to the back 12 of the book, whichis usually a piece of fabric overlapping and secured to the sideilatt-s. A.

i metal, is shown as secured between the back 12 and its lining 14, andis provided with upstanding a crtured lugs 15, 16, adjacent its sideodes, l

t lose lugs being arrm'iged in pairs. thcro m ing three pair as shown.The prong-currying plates 17, 18, are located above the plate 13, andeach of these plates is provided with downstnnding apcrtured lugs 10,cooperating with the lugs 15 and 1G, and are secured thereto by means ofpins 20, 21, which serve as pivots on which the plates may rock. Asshown, these pins are substantially of the same length as the plates,each servin as a pivot for uniting t e several pairs 0 lugs 11 on oneside of the binder. The inner gcs of the plates 17, 18, abut, and areheld in engagement by means of a plurality of buttons 22, fittingloosely within recesses 28 in the plates and being transversely groovedto provide heads above and below the plates.

The prongs 24, three sets of which are shown, are substantiallysemi-circular in form, their inner ends being rigidly attached to theplates 17 and 18, and their outer ends being of complementary mortiseand tenon form so as to interlock when closed together.

A bowed spring plate 25 is located above the plates 17 and 18, its edgesbeing turned inwardly to engage their outer edges, the spring (platebeing suitably recessed to accommo ate the prongs. The tension of thespring plate forces the plates 17 and 18 toward each other and causestheir deflection either downwardly for the purpose of closing the prongstogether, or upwardly for spreading them, these plates pivoting upon thepins 20, 21. As there is necessarily a slight lateral movement of atleast one set of the prongcnrrying plates as they swing upon theirpivots, one set, as 15, of the lugs rising from the plate 13 is shown ashaving e ongated pivot apertures. The pron may be opened by gripping themem ers of any pair and forcing them apart; preferably, however, bypressln the p ates 13 and 25 toward each other. llsually this pressurewill be applied by resting the book when open 11 on a desk and bearingdown either direct y upon the plate 25 or upon the bound sheets. Thepivots of the plates 17, 18, being near their outer edges, the relativemovement of the plates 13 and 25 is very small, much less than in thestructure forming the subject of another application by myself for mlentand copendin" with thus one. 'Im pron s are closed by pressing togetherthe mom lore of any pair of them.

The construction is simple and clump, while the binder is exceedinglycllicaont.

I claim as my invention 1. In a loose loaf binder, in combination, abase plain-,1: pair oi mung-mrrymg plates iivotul y attached to thebum-flute and uwing their edges abutting, an a spring acting on theprong-carrying plates and tact and each being provided with a set ofurginlg them to ether. ldownstanding apertured lugs, a pin unit- 2. n aloose eaf binder, in combination, in cooperating members of each set oflugs, a base late, a pair of prong-carrying plates ivota y attached tothe base-plate and aving their edges abutting, one of such pair ofplates having lateral play on its pivots, and a spring acting on theprongplates together.

6. In a loose leaf binder, in combination, a base plate having two setsof upstandin apertured lugs, the apertures of one set 0 an a springurging the prong-carrying carr ing plates and urging them to ether. 3lugs being elon ated parallel with the base 3. In a loose leaf binder incom ination, i plate, a pair 0 prong-carrying plates hava base late, apair of pron -carrymg mg their ad scent edges in contact and each platesplvotall attached to the ass-plate i being PI'OVI ed with a set ofdownstanding and having t en edges abutting, and a apertured lugs, a pinuniting cooperating bowed spring plate covering the prong-cari membersof each set of lugs, and a spring rying plates and bearing against theirouter I urging the prong-carrying plates together.

edges. I a loose leaf binder, 1n combination, 4. In a loose leaf binder,in combination, a base plate, a pair of prong-carrying plates a baselate, a pair of prong'carrying plates related together as toggle armsand each pivotal y attached to the base-plate and havhaving a pivotalengagement with an aping their edges abutting, and a lgrooved butpurtenance of the back plate, and a spring ton housed 1n recesses m theER ]acent edges engagin the prong-carrying plates and of the pair ofplates. urging t em toward each other.

5. In a loose leaf binder, in combination, JAMES C. DAWSON.

a base plate having two sets of upstanding \Vitnesses:

' a ertured lugs, a pair of prong-carrying F. \V. BIS UE,

p ates having their adjacent edges in con- Farm. Corrmm.

